Method of and mechanism for automatically feeding individual signatures into alpha signature-handling machine



Nov. 22, 41932.

R. KLEMM METHOD 0F AND MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES IN TO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 22, 1932. R, KLEMM 1,888,271 METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 22, 1932. R, KLEMM 1,888,271

METHOD 0F AND MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1950 l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 L wenz@ 1";

Nov. 22, 1932. R KLEMM 1,888,271

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FON AUTOMATLCALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 22, 1932. R, KLEMM 1,888,271

METHOD 0F AND MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIGALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 3, 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 22, 1932. R, KLEMM 1,888,271

METHOD 0F AND MEGHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 3. 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 22, 1932. R, KLEMM 1,888,271

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov'. 3, 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Nov. 22, 1932. R. KLEMM 1,888,271

METHOD oF AND MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL l SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 3. 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Nov. 22, 1932. R KLEMM 1,888,271

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov.` 3, 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Nov. 22, 1932. R, KLEMM 1,888,271

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 3, 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 gli Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUDOLF KLEMM, OF LEIPZIG-PLAGWITZ, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 GEBRUDER BREHMEB, OF LEIPZIG-PLAGWITZ, GERMANY, A GERMAN FIRM METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATilCALLY FEEDING INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES INTO A SIGNATURE-HANDLING MACHINE Application led November 3, 1930, Serial No. 493,114, and in Germany Hay 8, 1930.

The present invention relates to signature handling machines and is more particularly concerned with the method of and mechanism for automatically feeding signatures to such machines.

The object of the invention is to provide for the automatic positioning of folded Signatures in close piled formation for their further handling and is adapted for use in all cases Where the signatures are conveyed individually and straddlewise to be thereafter subjected to some further operation.

According to this invention a method of automatically supplying folded signatures in close piled formation to a signature operating machine is carried into effect by mechanism whereby the upper and lower leaves or sections of a signature separated from a fanned-out bank are seized by one or more rotatable and intermittently moved suction members opened by the inverse rotation of the latter and thereafter turned about the edge of one section and placed straddlewise on a table or like supportl for further handling.

The above described method may be used for instance for feeding individual already gathered layers successively into wire stitching machines or thread sewing machines and, by Way of example, the utility of the invention is herein described in association with a thread binding machine, since the latter necessitates certain constructive developments which lie within the scope of the invention and for that reason are to be included therewith. By so incorporating the invention, however, the scope of the application of the latter should not be deemed to be exhausted. In the place of an oscillating saddle upon which the straddling layers are conveyed to the stitching machines, use could be made, for instance, of a chain onto which the layers conveyed to it by this method are placed in an opened-out position for their further handling.

The application of this method of sheet feed to thread binding machines may, in some cases, call for the use of further controlling vmechanism so that, for example, after each ompleted book-stitching operation an idle stitch is made (a so-called blind stitch) in order to enable a full stitch to be present in the last layer after cutting away the stitched book from the stitcher head. To this end it is necessary, at a suitable moment, to interrupt the suction, applied as hereinafter described, by a mechanically controlled operation of the automatic sheet-feed mechanism of the machine.

lVhen the layers or signatures, to be handled by this method, are provided with prepasted top sheets, as is known in the art, it is necessary to provide means for opening out the layer so that seizure by the lifting suction members takes place not only of the top j sheet but also of the upper leaf or section of the layer. During the feed of the sheets this is effected by the use of an auxiliary suction member by which the top sheet is somewhat retracted to enable the lifting sucker to seize, side by 'side with the top sheet, also the layer proper by the portion thereof thus exposed. Since these special top sheets only occur at each end of the book, i. e. on the first and last layer, as is the case also with the blind stitch above referred to, the devices requisite for their` manipulation may be either operable by hand at the requisite moment or, as shown in the constructional example herein to be described mechanically operated by adjustable and periodically operated devices.

The scope of this method of sheet feed to stitching machines must be deemed to include, moreover, in addition, means for providing the last sheet of each assembled book with a stripof adhesive along its folded edge in order to impart to the book a firmer hold in the binding. To this end provision is made of an adjustable glueing mechanism actuated in cycle with the sheet feed mechanism and which must be operated likewise periodically.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in association with a thread binding machine in which:

Figs. 1, la and 1b show in side elevation the automatic sheet feeding mechanism in a thread binding machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a sheet-lifting sucker in the gripping position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the same sucker after bending and lifting the folded edge of a. signature. h

Fig. 4 shows, in end elevation, the top openin -out suckers.A

ig. 5 shows in side elevation the upper and lower opening-out suckers and actuating mechanism in the engaging or sucking position.

Fig. 6 is a view of the upper and lower opening-out suckers in the act of opening out the signature en aged thereby,

Fig. 7 shows t e upper opening-out suckers and separating blade positioned to transfer the signature to the stitching blade of the thread binding machine.

Fig. 8 shows the signature positioned upon the stitching blade after being released by the upper opening-out suckers.

ig. 9 is a front elevation of suckers.

Fig. 10 shows a top-sheet sucker and the controlling mechanism thereof with the sucker engaging the top sheet.

Fig. 11 shows the top sheet retracted by the sucker mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a view of the upper opening-out sucker engaging Vthe top sheet and simultaneously the upper leaf of the signature.

Fig. 13 is a view of the pasting device and controlling mechanism therefor in the locked operative position.

Fig. 14 is a similar view showingthe paster device in operation.

Fig. 15 shows the arrangement of the suction control mechanism, and

Fig. 16 is a part sectional elevation of the suction control mechanism.

The signatures S to be automatically fed to the thread-binding machine are, by preference, banked in a fanned out condition in a known manner as illustrated in Fig. 1a. They are placed on the conveyor bands 2 which latter act in conjunction with the upper feed table 1, and are arranged so that the top-sheet their folds are at the bottom (directed to the' left in Fig. 1).

The conveyor bands 2 travellin in the direction of the arrow A, are riven in a known manner over a drum 3 (Fig. 1b) and transfer the signatures S by means of suitable sheet-guiding arrangements, to the conv eyors 4 running over the lower table 5 towards the sheet separating mechanismvin the direction of the arrow B. Owing to the change in the direction of travel of the signatures the latter, on reaching the table 5 as shown at S', have the folded edge thereof at the top (to the right), the open end of each signature being thus directed towards the separating device (Fig. 1). The lower feed table 5 and conveyor belts 4 are inclined to the horizontal so that the piled signatures are c0nveyed to the sheet-separating device in a substantially horizontal position. At the end of the lower conveyor table 5, the signatures come to rest a ainst a stationary abutment 6 (Fig. 1a). From the position thus de termined by the abutment 6 the sheets are raised individually from the bank and then conveyed to the opening-out devices (Figs. 1, and 4 to 8) by which they are opened out and transferred to the thread binding machine.

rl`he raising of the individual layers 0r signatures from the bank is effected by bending the fold along its whole length, lifting the signature along the fold and inserting a plate or table 19 into the space between the raised signature and bank. The bending of the fold is effected by suction nozzles or lifting suckeis 7 which are rotatably journalled about a pivotal shaft 8 and are aided by oscillable curved guide members 9 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The raising of the signature is effected by the lupward movement of slide bars 10 which carry the pivots 8 and thereby lift the suckers 7 together with the adhering signature (Fig. 3). The movement of the mechanism for the bending of the foldl is initiated by a cam C mounted on the cam shaft 11. The cam C engages a follower roller carried by a lever 12 which later is pivoted intermediate its length and is connected, by means of a connecting rod 10a, to a vertically movable guide rod 10b carrying a cross head 13. The latter member is engaged by one arm of a bell crank lever 14 which is pivotally mounted upon a horizontally slidable supporting member 28a. The other arm of the bell crank lever is linked by a connecting rod 15 to an oscillable lever 16 which is also mounted on the shaft 8 and rigidly secured to the sheet lifting members 7 8 and 9. In this manner the latter members are caused to turn about the pivot 8 and so bend the attached edge of the signature.

The movement of the mechanism for the lifting of the signature is brought about in a similar manner by a cam D on the cam shaft 11. The cam D engages a follower roller carried by a lever 17 which latter is pivoted intermediate its length and is connected to a vertically movable guide rod 18a carrying a slotted guide or cross-head 18 with which the slide bars 10 adjustably engage. The

slide bars 10 are slidably supported by the 1 member 28a.

The table 19, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which moves forward to support the raised signature after the horizontal displacement of the latter, then carries it forward to the sheet-opening means. The table is supported from a frame which is journalled on rollers set in guides 20 and receives its movement from a cam E on the cani shaft 11. The cam E engages a toothed segment lever 2l pivoted to the main frame of the machine. Gear wheels 22 and 23 keyed to the shaft 24 engage respectively, the toothed segment and a toothed rack 25 attached to the frame kof the table 19, Fig. 1. After the table 19, in its forward movement,

has reached the abutment 6 the signature is released by the suckers 7 and so deposited on the table with the fold lying against an adjustable stop 26 for its further conveyance. The .stop 26 (Figs. 1, 2 and is adjustable according to the width of the signature to be handled. The travel of the table 19 is longitudinally invariable and signatures of equal size positioned against the stop 26 are thus always carried with their fold to the same precise position relatively to the openingout mechanism (Figs. et to S). As the signatures must be seized by the suckers 7 (Fig. 2) at a short distance from the fold, it is necessar to adjust the position of the bending an lifting mechanism according to the size of the signatures. The adj ustlnent of these parts is effected jointly by rotation of the toothed gear 27, mounted on the member 28a and engaging with the toothed guide rail 28 (Figs. l, 2 and 3). The member 28a which carries the slide bar 10 and suckers 7, is slidably mounted upon the guide rail 28 and by the rotation of the gear wheel 27, is traversed to the position required according to the size of the signature.

At the end of the forward movement of the table 19 the open edge of the signature, raised from the bank, is brought between the upper opening-out nozzles 29 and the lower opening-out nozzles 30 (Fig. These openingout nozzles 29, 30, being in vertical juxtaposition, seize the signature from above and below close to the forward or open edge thereof.

'i The table 19, at that part at which the lower opening-out nozzles are located when the table is in this position, is provided with slots enabling the nozzles to pass through to the table surface and so engage the signature. The suction nozzles Q9 and 30, together with their sheet-guiding members 31 and 32 are securely mounted on rotatable suction pipes 33 and 34 respectively, (Figs. 4 to 8). The upper suction pipe 33 is rotatably journalled in the extremities of horizontal carrier brackets 35 and is adapted to perform therewith, specially controlled vertical and horizontal movements. Prior to the attachment of the signature to the upper and lower opening-out nozzles 29 and 30, the latter are rotated so that the mouthpieces of these nozzles are in the horizontal engaging position (Fig. 5). The nozzles-29 are moved down vertically until they and the lower nozzles 30 exert a slight pressure, from above and below, upon the signature. In this position suction is exerted both on the upper and lower leaves or sections of the signature. The upper sucker now parts the sections by a slight vertical upward movement. At the end of this upper movement of the signature and the upper sucker, the opening out both of the upper and of the lower sheets of the signature takes place simultaneously by the rotation of the upper and lower suction pipes (Fig. 6). The opening out of both sections is effected with equal velocity and the leaves or sections suitably guided onto the upper and lower guide straps 3l and 32. By preference, the suction nozzles are so distributed that one nozzle and one lay strap operates above and below as close as possible to the lateral edge of the signature.

By the opening out of the signatures, the falling apart of a thin, multiple cross-folded signature in its further transit to the blade 37 (Fig. 1) of the thread binding machine is prevented. In order to secure a corre/ct opening and passing on of the signature and to prevent the inner sheets from falling out,

the separating blade 36 (Figs. 5 and G) is arranged in front of the forward edge of the signature.

The blade 36 is movable in an upward and downward direction and during the opening out of the signature assumes a position in which its edge is level with the fold of the signature. Moreover, the blade is inclined towards the forward edge of the signature so as to be as close as possible to the fold of the latter. By this arrangement of the blade, the inner sheets of a signature, formed from thin paper that may have become fanned out, are safely supported on the upperedge of the blade until they are taken up by the stitcher blade 37 (Fig. 7). After the opening out of the signature, the upper suction pipe 33 carrying the suckers Q9 is moved towards the stitcher blade 37 and over-runs the upper edge of the latter until the fold line of the opened-out signature is positioned precisely on the upper edge of the blade 37 (Fig. 7). As the positions of the upper suction pipe 33 and of the blade 37 are precisely limited it is necessary, in the opening outJ of the signature, for the fold thereof to be arranged at a denite distance relative to the centre of the suction pipe 33 in order to prevent the fold from being carried too far either to the front or v the rear of the upper edge of the blade during the transference of the sheet to the blade. During the travel of the suction pipe over the upper edge of the blade, the suction pipe moves downwardly so that the curved lay straps .31, in passing the signature on to the blade, lie with their curvature below the upper edge of the latter, thus causing the signature to overhang on the blade.

In this position the suction nozzles 29 are caused to release the signature and the lay straps 31 are rotated inversely to their direction of rotation when opening the signature so that the tangential terminals ofthe lay straps 31 push the released section of the sig nature into the space between the blade and the stacker trough 38 (Fig. 8). The suction nozzles 30 release the lower section of the signature a` little earlier, i. e. when the signature, during its conveyance to the blade 37,

has been completely opened between the rotated upper and lower suction nozzles.

During the conveyance of the signature to the blade 37, the separating blade 36 is moved downwardly in a slightly oblique path of travel, and in this movement, as the lower section of the signature must glide over the edge of the separating knife this section of the signature is held open and prevented from drooping as shown in Figs. 7 and 8', theblade 36 thereby assisting the correct positioning of the signatures on the upper edge of the blade 37. The rotation of the suction pipes 33, 34 and of the suction nozzles Q9 and 30 as well as of the lay straps 31 and 3Q. for opening out the signature is initiated by a cam disc on the cam shaft 39 (Fig. 1). The throw of 'the cam is transmitted through a bell crank roller lever 40, connected by means of a rod41 to a lever 4Q rigidly mounted on a shaft 43 (Fig. 1) and also mounted on the latter connected to the lever 42 are levers 44 and 45.

The lever 44 transmits its movement/to/the upper suction pipe 33 through a connecting rod 46 adjustably connected to a bell crank. lever 47, which latter is linked by a connecting rod 48 to a toothed segment 49 engaging a toothed wheel 50 (Figs. 1 and 5). The toothed wheel 50 is rigidly mounted upon the pipe 33 and so rotates the latter together with the suction nozzles 29 and straps 3i. The lever transmits its movement to the lower suction pipe 34 through a connecting rod 51. connected to a bell crank lever 52a carrving a toothed segment 25 which engages a toothed wheel 53. The member 53 is rigidly mounted upon the pipe 34 and so rotates the latter together with the nozzles 30 and straps 3:2.

As already mentioned, in the pos1tioning of the signature on the straps 3l the fold line of the signature must be maintained at the same distance from the centie of the suction pipe irrespective of the size of the signature being thus handled. In order to attain this, it is necessary to vary the throw of the toothed section 49 (Fig. 5) according to the particular width of a signature. The regulation of the throw of the toothed segment is effected hv adjusting the point of attachment of the connecting rod 46 iii the slotted shank 54 ot the bell crank lever 47 (Figs. 1 and .5). For a signature of greater width the point of attachment of the rod 46 should be nearer to the fulcrum ofthe bell crank lever 47 and for a signature of narrower width it is set so as to be more remote from saidfulcrum. rIhe toothed wheel is adj ustably connected with the suction pipe 33 and the suction nozzles must be adjusted for each variation of the throw of the toothed segment 49 by a rotation of the suction pipe in the hub of the toothed wheel 50 (Fig. 4) so that the mouth of each suction nozzle is horizontal when about to engage the signature (Fig. 5).

The horizontal movement of the carrier arms 35 and the suction pi e 33, whereb the signature is conveyed to t e blade 37 1s effected positively with the movement of the arms 55 carrying the blade 37. The latter is moved in known manner from a cam on the cam shaft 39 (Fig. 1). This movement is briefly as follows:

An offset portion of one or both carrier arms 55 has rotatably mounted thereon a cam a strip of adhesive near'one'folded edge there-- of'as will hereinafter be described, it will become attached to the adjacent previously stitched signature and in common with all of the signatures forming the book-pad will thereupon be stitched by the usual stitching needles associated wit-h the stitcher head H but not herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings.

lVhen the signature carried by the stitching blade 37 is assembled with and attached to the pureviously assembled book-pad 38 the stitcher blade, in the course of its above described oscillatory movement, draws away from the pad and by lifting during this movement the outer leaf of the folded sheet or signature frees itself from the last attached signature. The pivoted lever arms 55 are connected at- 56, by a connecting rod 57, Vwith the rocking levers 58. The latter are rotatably connected at-59 to the carrier arms 35 (Figs. 1-5). The carrier arms 35 are supported at 60 in a rotatable manner by connecting rods 61 (Fig. 1) through which vertical movement is imparted to the carrier arms 35. This vertical movement of the carrier arms is initiated by a cam on the cam shaft 39 (Fig. 1). The latter engages a roller carried. by one arm of a bell crank lever 62, the other arm of which is connected by means of a connecting rod 63 to a lever 64 which is mounted together with a lever 65 on a shaft 65a. The latter lever is linked to the arms 35 by the connecting rod 61.

The separating blade 36 is also positively moved up and down by the movement of the blade 37 through levers 66 (Figs. 1 and 5) which are connected with the rocking levers 58 by being rigidly mounted on the same shaft as the latter. The blade 36 is 'ourn'alled on the displaceable shaft 67 an can be adjusted thereon according to the level of the signature. The shaft 67 is guided b rollers in a guide slot 68 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) and is connected to the levers 66 by connectig rods 69. The connecting rods 69 are rig- 1 y connected to the shaft 67 but pivotal y connected to the levers 66.

The first and the last si nature of the book is, in most cases, provided' with so-called foreset sheets 117 (Figs. 11 and 12). These sheets 117 are connected to the signature by a narrow strip of paste close to the fold. Since the sheet 117 of the top layer on the table 19 lies labove the top section of the signature the upper suction nozzle 29 would be prevented from seizing the top section of the signature as it would contact with and seize the sheet'117. In order, therefore, to render possible the opening out of a signature provided with a foreset sheet, an auxiliary sucker 70 is employed (Figs. 9 Iand 10).(

for, which suction openings 84 (Fig. 16) and This auxiliary sucker seizes the foreset sheet 117, prior to the return of the top openingout suckers from the preceding operation, and retracts the forward edge of the foreset sheet sufficiently to enable the nozzles of the opening-out suckers to Contact with their terminals partly on the signature and partly on the forward edge of the foreset sheet at the same time (Fig. 12),.

After the signature with its foreset sheet has, in this way, been seized by the openingout sucker, the auxiliary sucker 70 is caused to release the foreset sheet and the openingout operation takes place as in the case of the ordinary intermediate signatures.

The actuation of the auxiliary sucker is effected positively also from the movement of the blade 37 by linking the suckers 70 to the levers 66 (Fig. 10). The sucking nozzles are rigidly connected to a suction pipe 72 which is journalled in a pendulum lever 7 3. The latter is pivotally connected to 'an oscillating lever 74 and at its upper end is provided with a roller which is guided in stationary slot guides 75 (Figs. 10, 11 and 12). Connecting rods 71 serve to link the levers 66, 73 and Y74. Through this link-motion device the movement of the connecting rod 71 imparts an oblique rearwardly rising motion to the sucker nozzles 70 (Fig. 11). By reason of the sheet lay stop 26, the signature is held stationary while the foreset sheet is retracted as shown.

The four suction devices hereinbefore described, namely, the lifting sucker (Figs. 2 and 3), the upper opening sucker and the lower opening sucker (Fig. 5) 'and the auxiliary sucker (Fig. 10) are all connected by suitable conduits to a common vacuum pipe 76 (Fig. 1a) from which-the suction-seizure and release of the signatures individually is positively controlled.

Arranged on the vacuum pipe 76 side by side (Figs. 15 and 16) are a controlling sleeve 77 for the upper opening-out suckers, a controlling sleeve 78 for the lower opening-out suckers and similar sleeves 79 and 80 for the lifting suckers and the auxiliary suckers respectively. Each sleeve is adapted to be con-` nected with its respective suckers through the conduits above mentioned.

The controlling sleeves are rotatably journalled upon re-enforcing flanged collars on the vacuum pipe 7 6 and each is connected to a controlling lever 81 (Fig. 15). The operative movement is imparted to each controlling sleeve from cams mounted on the cam shaft 11 (Fig. la) in conjunction with a roller lever 82, one arm of which is linked by means of a connecting rod 83 to the lever 81. In order to regulate the suction and release periods of the sucker members the vacuum pipe 76 is provided centrally in regard to the longitudinal operating faces of the controlling sleeves and re-enforcing collars therethe collars also provided with axially arranged grooves 85, which latter do not communicate with the vacuum pipe. The controlling sleeves 77, 78, 79 and 8O are each provided with three radial openings 86, 86a and 8611, which are arranged side by side'in the same longitudinal plane, the middle opening 86a of the three openings to which,

in each case, Ia connecting nozzle and conduit leading to the suckers is attached, is in the same radial plane as the corresponding suction opening 84.

During the suction period of each set of suckers the controlling sleeve thereof is so actuated as to cause the central opening 86a therein to coincide with the opening 84 communicating with the suction means. When the sleeve is in this position, suction is applied suddenly and intensively through the suckers and so cause the latter to seize the signature. When it is required to release the signature from the suckers, the controlling sleeve is rotated to bring the outer openings 86 and 866 into communication with the groove 85 in the collar mounted on the vacuum pipe. In this operation the vacuum pipe 76 first overruns the suction opening 84 thereby closing. the latter while the signature is still held on the suckers by the vacuum maintained in the connecting hose. When the controlling sleeve has been rotated so far as to bring the openings 86 into register with the grooves 85, connection is established by the latter sleeve 8O for the auxiliary sucker 70 are eriodically interrupted according to an ar itrarily'adjustable number of working cycles corres' onding to the number of signatures of the ook to be stitched.

The working c cle of the mechanism of the lifting sucker 7 1s interru ted by one operation, after the stitching o the last signature of the book, for the execution of an idle stitch. The auxiliary sucker, however, is operated only during the handling of the first si nature and works idly during the stitching of the remaining signatures and also during the idle stitch.

The automatic throwing in and out of operation of the suction controlling sleeves, during the stitching of a numberl of signatures constituting a book, is attained by a counting shaft 87 (Figs. 1a and 16). This counting shaft is fitted with notched discs 88 for controlling the lifting and the auxiliary suckers. Co-operating with these notched discs 88 are locking levers 89 (Figs. 1a and 16) provided with fingers 90 which latter engage the circumferential notches in the discs 88.` The upper shank of each locking lever 89 serves for locking the movement of the controlling sleeve associated therewith by engaging a lug on the extremity of the lever 91 which latter forms part of the controlling sleeves. Each locking lever is actuated from acam 92 on the cam shaft 11 which engages a cam follower carried by a lever 93 which latter 'is rigidly connected to the lever 82 (Fig. 1a). The arm 93 is linked by the connectlng rod 94 to the lever 89. The latter is held a ainst movement by thelnotched disc 88 an released when, during the rotation of the counting shaft 87, a finger 90 enters a notch in the disc. During the entry of the finger into the notched disc the controlling sleeve is liberated tothe action of its drive, through the lever 82, and the suckers then in connection are operated.

In order to adapt the operating periods of the controlling sleeves to the number of the signatures of the book it is necessary to adjust the ratio of revolution of the counting shaft to that of the cam shaft according to the number of signatures to be stitched.`

It is necessary also that the number of revolutions of the cam shaft during the stitching of a book should be equal to the number of 96 must be adapted to the variable number of teeth on the ratchet wheel employed.

For the ur ose of relieving the binding stitch in t e rst and last s1 ature of a book and for more securely hol ing the book in the binding the two first and the two last signatures are mutually connected by a strip o paste applied to the fold thereof.

. To this end in the present instance the second and the last signature after removal from the lower bank table 5 and when in position on the transfer table 19 are automatically provided with a strip of paste. The paste is taken from a paste roller 99 (Fi 13) y a paster bar 100 and applied to the signa# tures, above mentioned, by a downward m0- tion of the paster bar 100 (Fig. 14). The periodical application of paste to the signature edge must likewise be controlled in accordance to the number of sigantures forming the book and this is effected in a similar manner to that described in connection with the periodical functioning of the suckers.

-The paster roller 99 is oscillably jouralled at 102 by means of arms 101. t is oscillated in cycle with the above described operations of the machine to apply paste to the paster bar as required. In the oscillation of the paste roller the latter is rotated, by means of a ratchet wheel 103, mounted thereon and engaged by a pawl 104 carried by an actuating rod 105, so as to cause the roller to be constantly refreshed with paste when about to contact with the paster bar. The connecting rod 105 is pivoted on the bracket` which supports the paster bar levers 106 so that with the linkage of the connecting rod 105 and the oscillation of the paste roller 99 about the pivot 102, the paste roller is intermittently advanced by the engagement of the ratchet 103 with the pawl 104.

The oscillation of the paste roller is initiated by a cam disc on the cam shaft 11 (Figs. 13 and 14) through roller lever 107, connect ing rod 108 and link 109 which latter is rigidly connected to the supporting arms 101.

The paster roller 99 oscillates about the pivot 102 towards the pivot of the arms 106 until the path .of travelof the paster bar 100 has been cleared (Fig. 14). The oscillation of the paster bar 100 is brought about by a cam F likewise mounted on the cam shaft 11 and adapted to actuate a roller lever 110 from which the movement is transmitted to a slotted guide or cross-head 112 by a connecting rod 111. Engaged in the guide 112 is a con-- necting rod 113 guided within the slot by means of a lever 114. The connecting rod 113 is connected to a lever 115 which is rigidly se cured to the shaft 116 carrying the arms 106 thus transmitting the vertical movement of the slotted member 112 to the paster bar.

The cam actuated lever 110 is periodically sito locked by the pivoted locking lever 89a which isoperated from a cam 92a, mounted on the shaft l1 and engaging a crank lever 93a the latter 'being connected to the locking lever 89a by a connecting rod 94a. rlhe lever 89a is associated with a notched 'disc 88a also. mounted on the counting shaft 87 and carries a lug or finger 90a which is adapted to engage the notches provided on the perimeter of the disc 88a. Thelever 89a is also provided at its lower extremity with a lug 89?) which is caused to engage a lug 110e provided on the lever 110, when the lug 90a is not engaged in a notch on the disc 88a. In this manner, the lever 110 is held from following the movement of the cam F until the disc 88a is stepped round, according to the number of signatures handled, and so allows the lug 90a to enter one of the notches above referred to. The movement of the locking lever in so engaging the notch liberates the roller lever 110 and the application of paste by meansof the paster bar 100 is then effected. The pasting device above described is adjusted in common with the lifting sucker 7 through the toothed Wheelf27 and the toothed guide rail 28 according the the width of the signature as previously described. In this constructional form which has been evolved for the automatic feed of a blade stitching machine the feed of the closed signa-tures takes place as described in horizontal direction while the suckers adapted to open the signatures by an intermittent rotary movement are juxtaposed in a vertical plane and special means are employed to effect the positioning of the signatures on to the carriers of the blade stitching machine.

I claim:

1. A method of automatically' supplying folded signatures to a signatme-handling machine. which includes seizing the upper section of a signature by at least one rotatable and intermittently moved suction member, seizing the lower section of the said signature by at least one rotatable and intermittently moved suction member, inversely rotating the said suction members to open the said signature, and thereafter turning the said signature about the edge of one section and then depositing the s'gnature straddlewise for its further handling upon a conveyor member.

2. A method of handling folded signatures provided with a foreset sheet, which includes mechanically displacing the foreset sheet. seizing the said foreset sheet and the adjacent section of the signature by at least one rotatable and intermittently moved suction member, seizing the complementary section of the said signature by at least one rotatable and intermittently moved suction member, inversely rotating the said suction members to open the said signature, and thereafter turning the signature about the edge of one section and depositing the signature straddle- Wise upon a conveyormember for its further handling.

3. A method of automatically supplying folded signatures to a signature-handling machine, as claimed in claim l, which includes periodically interrupting, by mechanical means, the feed of the signatures to the stitching mechanism to cause an idle stitch to be formed after each completed book.

L A method of handling folded signatures provided with a foreset sheet, as claimed in claim Q, which includes periodicallyv interrupting, by mechanical means, the feed of the signatures to allow the stitching means to provide an idle stitch after each completed book.

5. Sheet-handling apparatus comprising means for separating a signature from a fanned out bank of signatures, means for opening apart the upper and lower sections of the said signature, means for turning the signature about the edge of one section thereof, and meansfor positioning the said opened s gnature straddlewise upon a conveyor member.

6. Sheet-handling apparatus comprising means for separating a signature provided with an attached outer sheet from a fanned out bank of signatures, means for displacing the said attached sheet, at least one suction member to seize the said attached sheet and adjacent section of the signature, at least one suction member to seize the complementary section of the signature, means for inversely moving the said suction members to open apart the said sections, means for turning the signature about the edge of one section, and means for depositing the signature straddlewise upon a conveyor blade.

7 Sheet-handling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, which includes an auxiliary suction member, means for operating the suction member, and means for automatically controlling the operation of the said suction member.

8. Apparatus for use in a signature-handling machine, which comprises means for lifting the folded edge of the uppermost signature of a fanned out bank of signatures, a member adapted to separate the said signature from the. bank, suction members to engage the upper section of the signature, suction members to engage the lower section of the said signature, means for inversely moving the said suction members, means for turning the signature about the edge of one section thereof` and means for releasing the said signature from the suction members at a predetermined pofnt of its travel through the machine.

9. Apparatus for use in a signature-handling machine, comprising at least one pivotally mounted suction member, means for engaging the .said suction member with the folded edge of the uppermost signature of a horizontally fanned out bank of signatures, means for lifiting the suction member together with the signature held thereby, a. d1- viding member, means for en aglng the d1v1ding member with the lifted signature, at least one upper rotatable'suction member, at least one lower rotatable suction member` means for engaging the upper section of the said signature with the upper rotatable suction member means for engaging the lower section of the said signature with the lower rotatable suction member, a conveyor blade, means for rotating the said suetion members to open the signature, means for advancing towards the conveyer blade the upper suction member together with the section of the si nature held thereb means for segregating t e lower section of t e s. gnature from the upper section, and means for depositing the said signature straddlewise upon the said conveyor blade at a predetermined point of. the travel of the said signature through the machine.

10. Apparatus for use in a signature-handling machine, comprising means for separating the topmost signature from a fanned out bank of signatures, up er rotatable suction members, lower rotata le suction mem' bers, curved sheet guides associated with the said rotatable suction members, means for engaging the said suction members with the said signature, means for adjustably rotating the upper suction members and sheet guides associated therewith, means for rotating the lower suction members, and sheet ides associated therewith, a conveyor lade, a drive shaft, means controlled from the drive shaft for advancing the said upper suction member and sheet held thereby towards the said conveyor blade, and mea-ns for depositing the said signature straddlewise upon the said conveyor blade.

11. ApparatusV for use in a signature-handling machine, 'comprising means for separating the topmost signature from a fanned' out bank of signatures, an upper rotatable suction pipe, at least one suction member mounted on the said pipe, a curved sheet guide mounted adjacent each suction member on the said pipe, a lower rotatable suc# tion pipe, at least one suction member mounted on the lower suction pipe, a curved sheet guide mounted adjacent each suction member on the said lower suction pipe, a conveyor blade, means for engaging the said signature with the said upper and lower suction members, adjustable means for rotating the said upper suction pipe and members carried thereon, means for rotating the said lowersuction pipe and members carried thereon, means for advancing the said upper suction pipe and signature engaging members mounted thereon towards the said conveyor blade, and means for automatically controlling the suction periods of the said suction members.

12. Apparatus for use in a signature-ham dling machine, which comprises means for separating the topmost sheet from a tanned out bank of signatures, upper rotatable suction members to en age the said signature, lower rotatable suction members to engage the said signature, a suction valve device to regulate the operation of the said suction members, a drive shaft, timing mechanism actuated from the drive shaft to control the said valve device, means for rotatin the said suction members to open the sai segnature, a conveyor blade, and means for 0- sitioning the said opened signature strad lewise u on the said conveyor blade.

13. pparatus for use in a signature-han dling machine, ,which comprises at least one upper suction member, at least one lower suction member, means for separating a sig nature having an attached foreset sheet from a fanned out bank of signatures, means for advancing the said signature between the said upper and lower suction members,'at least one auxiliary suction member, means for engaging the auxiliary suction member with the said foreset sheet, means for causing the said auxiliary suction member to displace the said foreset sheet, a drive shaft,

timing mechanism actuated from the drive v shaft to control the operation of the said auxiliary suction member, means for engaging the upper suction member with the said foreset sheet and upper section of the said signature, means for engaging the lower suction member with the lower section of the said signature, a conveyor member, means for opening the signature, and means for depositing the said opened signature strad dlewise upon the conveyor member.

14. Apparatus for use in a signature-handling machine, which comprises at least one upwardly reciprocating supporting member, means for adjusting the horizontal position of the supporting member, a suction member rockably mounted on each supporting member, an upwardly movable cross head member slidably mounted, means for adjustably connecting the said supporting member with the said cross head member, a drive shaft, means for operating the cross head member from the drive shaft, means operated from the drive shaft for rocking the said suction member, signature opening members, means for vpositioning the signature between the said opening members, a conveyor member and means for placing the opened signature straddlewise upon the said conveyor member.

15. Apparatus for use in a signature-handling machine, which comprises means for lifting the folded edge of the topmost signature of a fanned out bank of signatures, a forwardly reciprocating plate adapted to engage and lift the said signature, an adjustable lay stop for the said plate, means for slidably supporting the said plate in guide members, a rack member forming part of the said plate supporting means, a pinion engaging the said rack, a drive shaft, and means for actuating thesaid pinion from the drive shaft.

16. Apparatus for use in a signature-handling machine, which comprises means for separating a signature from a fanned out bank of signatures, means for lifting and advancing the said signature for further handling, means for applying a strip of adhesive to the requisite edge of the said signature and means for adding the said signature to an assembled book-pad.

17. Apparatus for use in a signature-handling machine, which 'comprises means for separating a signature from a fanned out bank of signatures, means for lifting and advancing the said signature for further handling, an adhesive applving member, means for supplying the said adhesive-applying member with adhesive. actuating means to cause the yadhesive applving member to contact with the said signature. timing mechanism to control the said actuating means, a drive shaft. adjustable means for operating the said timing mechanism from the said drive shaft and means for adding the said signature to an assembled book-pad.

18. In automatic signature-handling mechanism having means for transporting a fanned out bank of signatures and means for separating the topmost signature from the said pile. signature opening members comprising upper rotatable suction members, lower rotatable suction members. a suction pipe common to the said suction members. rcenforcing grooved sleeves mounted on and having apertures communicating with the said pipe, a rotatable collar mounted o u each sleeve and having apertures communicating with the. aperture in the sleeve and the atmosphere and groove in the sleeve respectively, means for connecting theA said collar to a corresponding" suction member, a drive shaft, and means for actuating the suction control mechanism from the drive shaft for the purpose set forth.

19. In automatic signature-handling mechanism having means for transporting a fanned out bank of signatures. at least oneJ verticallv movable suction device adapted to engage the folded edge of the topmost signature of the bank and comprising suction members. means for rockablv mounting the said suction devices on a vertically reciprocating slide member. means for actuating the said slide member. a suction valve device common to the said suction members, means for connecting the said valve device to the said members, a drive shaft` means for operating 1 the said valve device from the said drive shaft, an auxiliary shaft, a ratchet mounted on the said auxiliary shaft, a pawl engaging the said ratchet, adjustable means for operating the said pawl from the drive shaft, a. notched timing disc mounted on the said drive shaft, cam actuated locking mechanism driven from the drive shaft, and means for engaging the suction control valve at predetermined intervals with the locking mechanism for the purpose set forth.

20. In automatic signature-handling mechanism having means for transporting signa.'- tures of which at least one is provided with a foreset sheet, selectively operated means for retracting the said foreset sheet of each signature so provided comprising at least one suction member, a supporting arm for the suction member, guiding means for the su porting arm engaging a slot in the main frame, link mechanism connected to the said supporting arm, a drive shaft, means for operating the said link mechanism from the drive shaft, a suction control device, means for connecting each suction member to the said control device, a second drive shaft, means for operating the suction control device from the second mentioned drive shaft, an auxiliary shaft, a ratchet mounted on the auxiliary shaft, a pawl engaging the said ratchet, adjustable means for operating the said pawl from the said second mentioned drive shaft. a notched timing disc mounted on the said drive shaft, cam actuated locking mechanism driven from the second mentioned shaft, and meansfor engaging the said suction control device With the said locking mechanism at predetermined intervals for the purpose set forth.

2l. In automatic signature-handling mechanism having means for transporting a. fanned out bank of signatures and means for scgregating and advancing the topmost signature ofthe said bank, means for selectively applying a strip of adhesive Ito the requisite edge of a signature, comprising a pivotally mounted adhesive-applying member, a pivotallv mounted adhesive-supply member, a slidablv mounted cross-head member, means for adjustably connecting the said adhesiveapplying member to the said cross-head member, a drive shaft, means for reciprocating the said cross-head member from the said drive shaft, an auxiliarv shaft, a ratchet mounted on the said auxiliary shaft, a. pawl engaging the said ratchet, adjustable means for actuating the said pawl from the drive shaft. a notched disc mounted on the said auxiliary shaft, a pivoted locking arm, a lug mounted on the said locking arm, means for actuating the said locking arm from the said drive shaft, means for engaging the said reciprocating means for the cross-head member with the said locking arm, and means for engaging the said lug in one of the said notches to allow the adhesive applying member t0 actuate for the purpose set forth.

for use in a signature-han` (lling machine, which comprises in combination, means for transporting a fanned out bank of signatures, means for engaging and lifting the folded edge ofthe topmost signature of the bank, means for separating and advancing the said topiiiost signature from the bank, upper rotatable suction members, lower rotatable suction members, means for engaging the said signature with the said suction members, means for rotating the said suction members, a signature conveyor blade, means for oscillating the said blade, means for advancing the upper suction member together with the section of thesignature held thereby, means for segregating the upper and lower sections of the said signature, means for positioning the opened signature above the said conveyor blade, and means for placing the said opened signature straddlewise upon the said blade.

23. Apparatus for use in a signatureliandling machine, which comprises incombinatioii, means for transporting a fanned out bank of signatures, means for positioning the signatures with their open edges facing the direction of travel, vertically movable liftingvmembers, means for engaging the folded edge of the topmost signature with the said lifting members, means for adjusting the position of the said lifting members, relative to the size of the signatures, means for lifting and rocking the said lifting members, a slidable separating plate, a lay stop mounted on the said separating plate, means for adjusting the said lap stop relative to the size of the signature, means for reciprocating the said separating plate in timed relation tothe opeiation of the machine to engage and advance the topmost signature, upper ratatable suction members, lower rotatable suction members, sheet tensioning members associated with the upper suction members, sheet tensioning members associated with the lower suction members, means for engaging the said suction members with the said signature, means for rotating the upper suction members and tensioning members, means for adjusting the rotation of the said upper suction members and tensioning members relative to the size of the signature, means for adjusting the position of the said suction members relative to the extent of the rotary travel thereof, means for rotating the lower suction members, means for advancing the upper suction members and tensioning members together with the section of the signature held thereby, a conveyor blade and means for depositing the said signature straddlewise upon the said conveyor blade.

24. A signature-handling machine which comprises, in combination, means for transporting a horizontal fanned out bank of signatures, at least one stitching head, an

22. Apparatus oscillatory conve tion signatures eneath the stitcher head, means for positioning they signatures with their open edges facing the sheet conveyor blade, means for lifting and separating the topmost signature from the fanned out bank, upper rotatable suction members, lower rotatable suction members, means for advancing the segregated signature to a position between the upper and lower suction members, means for applying a strip of adhesive to the folded edge of the said signature, means for opening the said signature, means for depositing the said signature straddlewise upon the conveyor blade, and means for applying the said signature to the preceding signature beneath the stitching head.

25. A signature-handling machine which comprises in combination, means for transporting a fanned out bank of signatures a number of the latter having, if desired, foreset sheets, at least one stitching head, an oscillatory conveyor blade adapted to position the signatures beneath each stitching head, means for positioning the signatures with their open edges facing the conveyor blade, means for lifting the folded edge of the topmost signature, means for separating and lifting the said signature from the bank, timing mechanism to control the said lifting means, upper rotatable sheet engaging members, lower -rotatable sheet engaging members, means for advancing a segregated signature between the said rotatable members, means for applying a strip of adhesive to the folded edge of the signature, timing mechanism to select automatically the requisite signature to which adhesive is to be applied, means for displacing the foreset sheet of the said signature, timing mechanism to control automatically the actuation of the said displacing means, means for engaging the said foreset sheet and upper section of the said signature with the said upper rotatable members, means for engaging the lower section of the said signature with the lower rotatable members` means for opening the said signature, and means for placing the said signature straddlewise upon the said conveyor blade for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof l aiiix mv signature.

RUDOLF KLEMM.

or blade adapted to posi- 

